Philosophy of Religion: Thomas Aquinas

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Questions and Answers

What characterizes the concept of God according to Thomas Aquinas?

God changes according to circumstances.

God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good. (correct)

God is limited by time and space.

God is solely defined by human experiences.

Which of the following best summarizes evidentialism?

Belief in God must rely solely on religious texts.

Belief in God is based on evidence. (correct)

Belief in God is absolute and cannot be questioned.

Belief in God is purely a personal sentiment unrelated to evidence.

Which term describes the reasoning about God based on revealed truths from scripture?

Theology (correct)

Agnosticism

Philosophy of religion

Naturalism

What does classical theism assert about the nature of God?

God exists beyond time and does not change. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about anthropomorphic descriptions of God is correct?

They are purely metaphorical and symbolic. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first precept of Natural Law according to Aquinas?

Do good and avoid evil Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Doctrine of Double Effect?

A principle that allows harm for the greater good only if unintended Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a basic good for human beings according to Aquinas?

Wealth Signup and view all the answers

How does Aquinas view the role of human reason in relation to natural law?

It provides the means to derive secondary principles Signup and view all the answers

According to Aquinas, what inclination does man have that connects to the preservation of his being?

An inclination to seek good as per human nature Signup and view all the answers

Which argument suggests that observations about the universe support the existence of a creator and sustainer?

Cosmological argument Signup and view all the answers

What did Thomas Aquinas believe about the existence of God?

It is supported by rational arguments. Signup and view all the answers

Which of Aquinas’ Five Ways is specifically identified as a teleological argument?

The Fifth Way Signup and view all the answers

What is a theodicy, according to Aquinas's discussion of the problem of evil?

A defense explaining the reason for evil's existence Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher is known for synthesizing Aristotelian ideas with Christianity?

Thomas Aquinas Signup and view all the answers

What did the Greek philosophical ideas primarily focus on after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Spirituality and otherworldliness Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the natural law theory's perspective on a duty derived from a basic good?

A duty can be derived from a basic good to promote or protect that basic good. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a basic good that requires duties not to interfere with its natural course?

Procreation Signup and view all the answers

Which argument posits that the natural world reveals signs of a purposeful creation?

Teleological argument Signup and view all the answers

In which historical context did the rediscovery of Greek philosophy in the West take place?

Through Islamic civilization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT identified as a basic good in the content provided?

Wealth Signup and view all the answers

According to the discussed theory, what must humans avoid to promote social harmony?

Stealing Signup and view all the answers

What did Aquinas argue about the relation of physical motion to Aristotelian physics?

Objects aim to return to their natural centers. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes William James' perspective from that of evidentialism regarding belief in God?

He advocates for non-evidentialism. Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes the idea that human life can flourish when lived through reason?

Eudaimonism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following inclinations belongs to man's natural inclination according to the content?

To know the truth about God Signup and view all the answers

What does rational conduct entail according to the content provided?

Pursuing knowledge and avoiding intemperate living Signup and view all the answers

What is a key question raised about human flourishing in the discussion?

Can one know what is required for flourishing solely through introspection? Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Thomas Aquinas

Aquinas believed in Abrahamic monotheism, a concept shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Theology is reasoning about God within a specific faith tradition.
Philosophy of religion rationally evaluates religious claims independently of divine revelation.

Classical Theism

God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good (omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent).
God is eternal or exists beyond time.
God does not change.
There is never a time when God has not existed.
Anthropomorphic descriptions are symbolic and metaphorical.
God is completely transcendent.

Arguments for God's Existence

Evidentialism: Belief in God is based on evidence.
Theistic evidentialism: Belief in God is based on good evidence.
Atheistic evidentialism: Belief in God is based on evidence but there is no good evidence.
Non-evidentialism: Belief in God is independent of evidence, based on faith, existential meaning, or practical motivations.
Aquinas believed that God's existence is supported by rational arguments, though not all religious claims are demonstrably rational like the Trinity.

Types of Arguments for God's Existence

Ontological Argument
Cosmological Argument: Observations about the world are evidence for a Creator and sustainer.
First three of Aquinas' "Five Ways" are cosmological arguments.
Teleological Argument: An argument from the design of the world

The Problem of Evil

Aquinas addresses the difficulty of reconciling God's goodness with the existence of suffering.
He believed God permits suffering for a greater good.

Athens and Jerusalem

Greek philosophy (Plato and Aristotle) influenced Western thought.
Rise of Christianity (33 CE) introduced monotheism, dualism, an afterlife and the idea of a superior spiritual realm to the material realm.
Augustine (354-430 CE) combined Neoplatonic philosophy with Christianity; incorporating Platonic ideas in a more otherworldly view.
Fall of the Western Roman Empire led to a decline in Greek philosophy's influence.

###Rediscovery of Greek Philosophy

Rise of Islam (7th century CE) led to the rediscovery of Greek philosophy due to Islamic thinkers engaging with it.
Huge translation project in Baghdad led to incorporating and studying ideas of Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus.
Subsequent engagement with Greek philosophy led to the development of Aristotelian philosophies.
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE) further synthesized Aristotelian ideas with Christianity.

Scholastic Philosophy

Medieval Scholastic philosophy built upon Aristotelian ideas to create sophisticated systems of theology and philosophy.
Aquinas viewed God as the Creator of Aristotelian essences (like Plato's Forms) within material things.
We can understand God's purposes through observing creation.
Movement explained physical motion in Aristotelian physics.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Born in southern Italy.
Familys wanted him to join a wealthier monastic order but he joined the Dominicans.
Studied philosophy and theology at the University of Paris.
Achieved intellectual feats which had a deep impact on theological thought.

Natural Law

Natural law are the objective moral norms that are inherent in human nature and discoverable though reason and instinct
Human laws are based on natural law, applying it to specific circumstances.
Morality is part of God's plan to lead humans to Him.
Our duties depend on reason and our created biological nature.

Aquinas on Natural Law

"Do good and avoid evil" is the primary precept of Natural Law.
Secondary precepts are derived through reason from primary precepts.
Important principles: The Golden Rule, The Doctrine of Double Effect. Key goods: life, procreation, social life, knowledge, and rational conduct.

The Basic Goods

Pluralism: Many things are good for a flourishing life.
Eudaimonism: A good life is a flourishing life with reason.
Basic goods guide natural law theory's application.
The basic goods of life, procreation, social life, knowledge and rational conduct help establish duties.

Discussion

Can human flourishing be determined through understanding human nature?
Is there a universal and unchanging human nature?
Does a higher law exist by which human laws can be judged (and criticized if unjust)?
Would a virtuous ruler be preferable to a virtuous democracy?

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Description

Explore key concepts and the characteristics of God as presented by Thomas Aquinas in this insightful quiz. Delve into his views on Natural Law, evidentialism, and classical theism while examining how reason relates to divine truths.